A600 Desktop project

[merlinkv]

Hi to all

Well, finally I come back at home and decide to start one of my projects.

Time a go I'm planning to start my project with one Slim PC-Desktop case, but this case don't have room for all the peripheals I want to install.

So, I decide to use my spare A4000D case. Yes, is not slim but have room to install all I need

Components:

- A4000D case
- A600 mobo
- A603 2MB Chip/RTC
- ACA 630/25 32MB
- Indivision ECS
- Mikronik 3 ROM Switcher, 1.3 & 3.1
- Elbox PC-Key 600
- Mouse/Joystick => USB/PS2 Adapter
- Floppy 3.5 DD as DF0
- Buffered IDE splitter
- IDE-CF Adapter as HDD
- IDE DVD-RW
- Modified ATX PSU

A few pics of this "monster" completely dismounted. Just to test if everything works.





Works!

Now is time to start design & Dremel jobs.

 

[fitzsteve]

Nice idea, but before you start cutting up the case - maybe it would go better in an A1000 case?

Maybe you can find a cheap dead A1000?

Have fun with the projects

Steve.

 

[merlinkv]

Hi Steve

I decide to use the A4000D case because don't need to much work.

At the front I have room for DVD, CF-HDD & Floppy.

My idea is to cut on the left side to get external acces to all connectors and also a little mods in the front for one more led and direct acces to the PCMCIA port.

For mouse & Joystick I want to use the back "holes".

Really I don't need the A4000D case because my A4000's are mounted on mid & full towers. When I finish this A600 I want to start my Mirage Pro 4000 project is stopped for now.

Thank a lot for your help to buy the A600, mobo looks pristine and works like a charm.

All the best

Pablo

 

[mfilos]

Good luck with the project mate.
Space is really cool in an A4000D case.

My only suggestion is NOT to cut the case but instead use custom extension cables from every connector, mounting them on the back of the case as the original A4000D mobo.
That way would be more pretty and more reversable in case you change your mind in the future.
Also I think that cutting the side and mounting all the cables wouldn't be pretty (I mean an amiga with all cables visible from the side....)

Anyway, opinions are like a..holes... Everybody has one

 

[PhilipMcD]

I agree with mfilos - big box cases are relics in their own right.

Is there no other way?

 

[merlinkv]

Hi,

My only suggestion is NOT to cut the case but instead use custom extension cables from every connector, mounting them on the back of the case as the original A4000D mobo.
That way would be more pretty and more reversable in case you change your mind in the future.
Also I think that cutting the side and mounting all the cables wouldn't be pretty (I mean an amiga with all cables visible from the side....)

Thanks mfilos, you're right. More time & job but really is a better idea.

I agree with mfilos - big box cases are relics in their own right.

Is there no other way?

Really no other way.... the only one is to spend more time & money to find one PC desktop case with room for all I want..... but, in the local market here is not available and buying one outside will be very expensive due te delivery costs.

But, yes, it's better to use custom extensions and connect all to the back.

Thanks to all.

 

[merlinkv]

Hi again

A little update....

Time a go I bought a little but powerfull PCB to adapt the Amiga Mouse and Joystick ports. With this board I can use Standard/PS2/USB M&J. In my case I want to use a USB Mouse and Standard Joystick (Competition Pro).



In the upper side I installed the outs (left to right) for VGA, PS2 Keyboard and ROM Switcher.



Looking on my Desk I found a little ATX PSU, also I have a power cable Amiga terminated. But I need help to know wich wires I need to cut & solder. Any help will be appreciated.



More pics soon

As I said.... Any help/idea will be very much appreciated

All the best

 

[merlinkv]

More updates.....

mATX PSU modded also with one off/on switch to put in the front pannel.

After installed in the case i will publish more pics.

 

[jvdbossc]

I see you had a plan. It looks like it is going to be working

If you are not going to hurt the a4000 case and if the mobo has holes you can use of the shelf pc spacers and use tec7 and leave it overnight since hotglue will drie to quick unless you have the holes exactly marked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZvCOvrL1ts

 

[merlinkv]

I see you had a plan. It looks like it is going to be working :-D

If you are not going to hurt the a4000 case and if the mobo has holes you can use of the shelf pc spacers and use tec7 and leave it overnight:-D since hotglue will drie to quick unless you have the holes exactly marked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZvCOvrL1ts

Thanks for the info m8

But hot glue is easy take out and is good to fix components ...

For now I don't make any changes in the A4000D case

 

[merlinkv]

Hi again

More little updates

I made a better isolation for the IDE Buffered interface and installed in the case, also notice the way of the power cable:



For IndivisionECS I used two sockets. No ACA630 & IndiECS fits fine:



Mikronik ROM Switcher... I needed to made to spacers to separate from ACA630 (I read about heat of this board):



More pics in the next post.

 

[merlinkv]

More.......

The leds.... a "big" problem...... with a simple solution:



The ACA603 is dancing a bit. So, more spacers to fix....



More pics soon

All the best